2012 Neural Development Gordon Research Conference

描述(申请人提供)：成人中枢神经系统的正常功能需要高度协调和精确调控的发育程序来协调神经发生、神经元迁移、轴突引导和突触形成。这些项目的变化已被证明是一系列神经发育障碍的基础，包括自闭症谱系障碍、精神分裂症、智力低下、癫痫和神经退化。因此，全面了解神经系统发育的基本机制对于合理设计治疗这些疾病的策略是至关重要的。2012年神经发展戈登研究会议的目标是将老牌和新兴的研究人员聚集在一起，讨论最近的研究突破，以促进互动和合作，并加强翻译研究的基础。会议的总主题将围绕分子和遗传方法，以及跨物种研究在我们理解神经发育原理方面的作用。该会议自1981年以来每两年举行一次，并已成为该领域的首屈一指的会议，一直吸引着著名的国内和国际研究人员以及学生和博士后研究员在一个小型的互动环境中进行深入的科学讨论。会议的形式是以口头陈述为中心，然后进行广泛的讨论，高度互动的海报会议，以及非正式会议的“自由”时间，允许互动的水平和深度，这在其他大型会议中是罕见的。2012年 会议将涵盖8个主题，包括神经发生和脑模式；细胞命运指定；神经干细胞；神经元迁移和极化；神经元形态发生；神经系统连接；突触发生和电路形成；人类大脑进化。在制定该计划时，注意邀请最近取得令人兴奋的突破的演讲者，并在他们的研究中使用各种模型系统(蠕虫、果蝇、非洲爪哇、斑马鱼、老鼠、人类)和包括分子、遗传和细胞在内的多种方法。该项目还包括国内和国际演讲者，以及高级和初级研究人员。35%的确认演讲者是女性。根据以往的历史和令人兴奋的确认演讲者名单，我们预计2012神经发展GRC将成为一个成功的论坛，促进我们对神经发展的理解，并促进翻译研究的战略，以解决人类神经发育病理问题。 公共卫生相关性：研究会议为传播研究成果和建立导致新见解的合作提供了一个重要论坛。2012年戈登神经发展研究会议预计将通过加深我们对中枢和外周神经系统发育的基本机制的理解，以及这些机制在神经发育障碍中是如何被破坏的，从而影响公共健康。研究人员使用各种互补的实验方法研究不同模型系统之间的讨论和互动有望导致新的研究方向的启动，导致新的治疗策略的开发和合理治疗方法的靶点的确定。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proper function of the adult central nervous system requires highly orchestrated and precisely regulated developmental programs to coordinate neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon guidance and synaptogenesis. Alterations in these programs have been shown to underlie a wide array of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, mental retardation, epilepsia and neurodegeneration. Thus, a complete understanding of the basic mechanisms of nervous system development is essential for a rational design of strategies to treat these disorders. The goal of the 2012 Neural Development Gordon Research Conference is to bring together established and rising investigators to discuss recent research breakthroughs, in order to foster interactions and collaborations, and to strengthen the foundation for translational research. The overall theme of the meeting will center around molecular and genetic approaches, and the role of cross-species investigations in our understanding of neurodevelopmental principles. This conference has been held biannually since 1981, and has become the premier conference in this field that consistently attracts prominent national and international researchers, as well as students and postdoctoral fellows in a small, interactive setting for in-depth scientific discussions. The format of the meeting which is centered around oral presentations followed by extensive discussions, highly interactive poster sessions, and 'free' time for informal meetings allows a level and depth of interaction that is rarely found at other, larger conferences. The 2012 conference will cover 8 themes including neurogenesis and brain patterning; cell fate specification; neural stem cells; neuronal migration and polarization; neuronal morphogenesis; wiring the nervous system; synaptogenesis and circuit formation; human brain evolution. In developing the program, attention was paid to inviting speakers who have made recent exciting breakthroughs and who use a variety of model systems (worm, fruit fly, xenopus, zebrafish, mouse, human) and multiple approaches including molecular, genetic and cellular, in their research. The program also includes national and international speakers, as well as both senior and junior researchers. 35% of the confirmed speakers are women. Based on prior history and the exciting list of confirmed speakers, we expect that the 2012 Neural Development GRC will be a successful forum furthering our understanding of neural development, and in promoting strategies for translational research to address human neurodevelopmental pathologies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Research conferences provide a critical forum for the dissemination of research findings, and for the establishment of collaborations leading to novel insights. The 2012 Gordon Research Conference in Neural Development is expected to impact public health by furthering our understanding of the basic mechanisms by which the central and peripheral nervous systems develop, and how these mechanisms are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. Discussions and interactions among researchers working on different model systems using various complementary experimental approaches is expected to result in the initiation of novel research directions, leading to the development of new therapeutic strategies and the identification of targets for rational treatment approaches.